A story about a New York Times best-selling author being recognised for his volunteer work in the Horsham district has gone viral.

David ‘Pig Pen’ Sedaris, who litter picks in areas including Parham, Coldwaltham, Storrington and beyond, has had a rubbish truck named after him.

The bespoke vehicle is bedecked with a ‘Pig Pen Sedaris’ sign.

Horsham District Council held an unveiling ceremony with district councillor for Chantry Diana van der Klugt and the Lord Lieutenant for West Sussex Susan Pyper, who hailed Mr Sedaris as a ‘local hero’.

Mr Sedaris has a massive following in America as a Grammy-Award winning author and comedian and after the County Times published the story on its website yesterday (July 28) it went viral.

Thousands of his fans from across the world were logging onto the website and the paper’s Facebook page to read the piece.

Thrilled to have the vehicle named after him, Mr Sedaris, said: “When I first moved to Horsham district three years ago I was struck by the area’s outstanding natural beauty but I was also struck by all the rubbish that people leave lying around the roads.

“I’m angry at the people who throw these things out their car windows, but I’m just as angry at the people who walk by it every day. I say pick it up yourself. Do it enough and you might one day get a garbage truck named after you. It’s an amazing feeling.”